November 1, 2007 CVPO Meeting and Principal Coffee


CVPO Business

Minutes:  After introductions, the minutes of the 10/04/07 meeting were approved.

Correspondence:  A condolence note was sent to former teacher Rita Thompson who lost her mother and get well cards were sent to staff members Laurie Jones and Denise Murschel who are out on medical leave.

All teachers who received grant money form the CVPO last month expressed their appreciation through emails to the grants committee.

Treasurer’s Report:  Available funds of $3,154.73 were reported after disbursements of $2500 for teacher grants and $12.95 for last spring’s Career Fair.

Volunteer News: Daryl Thaw reported that she could use a few more helpers to serve and clean up for the teacher conference dinner on Thursday, Nov. 8 from 6-7 p.m. in the staff dining room off the cafeteria.

Fundraising Activities:  Katherine Cleland reported that 42 people are now signed up for E-Scrip.  Sign-up will be available during arena conferencing.

Stores such as Macy’s and Nordstrom’s participate in E-scrip and donate 8-10% of money spent, so participation during holiday shopping could generate funds for the school.  The privacy policy is strong and you can remove yourself from the program at any time.

Dream Dinners, a Corvallis meal preparation business, will donate a percentage of your money spent from Nov. 15-Dec. 15, but you must tell them you’re with CVPO.  For more information, go to
http://dreamdinners.com/main.php?static=index or contact the local store at 752-3040 or Circle9or@dreamdinners.com.

Next CVPO Meeting:  The CVPO will not meet in December.  The next meeting and Principal Coffee will be Jan. 10, 2008.


Principal Topics

Tobacco Report:  Cherie Stroud introduced Dana Galle-Strowbridge, from the District Tobacco Awareness Council and district teacher.  Dana described the strategies tobacco companies use to make tobacco use attractive to children, including packaging, use of flavorings, marketing, and store placement. She passed around a variety of products she had purchased in Corvallis, including Camel No. 9 cigarettes, clove cigarettes, flavored cigars, portioned snus, and flavored snuff.

Please see http://www.csd509j.net/cvhs/pdfs/tobacco and teens.pdf for a report on teens and tobacco.

Cherie reported that there is a tobacco problem at CV.  Dana asked that you ask anyone you see using tobacco on or around the school campus to stop. She can be reached at dana.strowbridge@corvallis.k12.or.us or 760-0468.

High School Schedule Committee:  Yvonne Uribe-Lomnicky, parent member of the committee, reported on the committee’s work examining the high school schedule and making recommendations for change.

After a months-long period of investigation, the committee concluded that although “no schedule was ideal, including our current high school schedule, none was better suited to our diverse school needs, community values, and the country-wide scheduling system than the existing block schedule.”

Further, it found that “the real issues appear to center around (the 20% of all) students who do not use their unscheduled time wisely and to the add/drop policies which contribute to this.”

At CVHS, these issues have been addressed by the new Freshman Focus course, the new Link Crew freshman mentoring program, and shortening the drop period.

The next step will be meetings between the superintendent and high school administration to evaluate impact of the changes.

Question time:  Cherie was asked about long lunch lines and paying for lunches.  She responded that the lines can be long but there is ample time to purchase food.  Lunches can be prepaid with a check to CVHS given by your student to a cafeteria staff member or left at reception in the front office.  Food is then purchased on a tab system with a student body card until the account is empty.

It was asked how students in off-blocks are accounted for in an emergency.  Cherie said that in the event of a school evacuation, students in unassigned time are instructed to check in with the nearest adult.  Their names are then cross-checked with registration forms.

A question was raised about getting messages to students.  Important messages will be delivered to students during the first 10 minutes of class and notes with non-important messages will be put on lockers.

Upcoming Events:

Conferences:  Thursday, Nov. 8 and Friday, Nov. 9
No School:  Nov. 7-12
Thanksgiving Break:  Nov. 22-23
Winter Formal:  Sat., Dec. 8
Financial Aid Night:  Wed., Dec. 12
Winter Break:  Dec. 22- Jan 6
Next CVPO meeting and Principal Coffee:  Thurs., Jan. 10


CVHS Website:  http://www.csd509j.net/cvhs/

Current Raider News:
http://www.csd509j.net/cvhs/raidernews/Raider%20News%20Nov%202007.pdf


Respectfully submitted,
Alex Vincent
November 6, 2007